Red and Blue (No White)

Last night was red and blue night. First the red:

And here's how the turret will look on the Falcon:

And then the blue. With flash, then without (old model on the right for comparision):

I got the effect by putting a light drybrush of light blue on the raised parts, and then the Pure Blue on the lighter parts to take away the paleness. I'm not sure if I'm happy with the result or not yet, I'll see how it feels tonight. But I'm definitely happier with this approach than with the old method which was simply blue followed by white highlight.

Wow!

My last game fielding Eldar was October 21, 2004. Almost an entire year ago. And my previous game before that was February 2, 2004. Only two games in over a year and a half with my Eldar. Man, I can't wait for that new codex in 2006. *crosses fingers*

Edit: In that same period, I played 45 games with my chaos, 13 games with my BFG fleet, and 12 games of Epic. Yeah, I'd say my interest in Eldar was down :P

Eldar Pictures (and Dreadnoughts)

Here is my current projects. The support weapon Shadow Weaver with some black started on it:

The crew with a base of cobalt blue and a wash of black ink as part of my experiement. It is to be followed by another coat of blue on the raised parts and a final lighter blue for highlighting.

Here is the weapon and crew I did a couple years ago:
 

The turret I've started:

For this falcon. This is the last Eldar model I painted and one of my best works. I did a lot on this model I never had done before such as highlighting the red and black panels, painting the canopy, and glossly varnish on the stones. I'm proud of it even though Corey's latest stuff puts my falcon to shame.
  

And the Epic Dreadnoughts I finished earlier:

New Project

Well, I based and photographed the dreadnoughts but forgot the memory card at home. So pictures tomorrow.

While looking for my next painting job I broke out my Eldar army and decided to paint up a falcon turret that has been languishing. I've got an Eldar megabattle in January and my Falcon will be needed. I'm also painting up a second Shadow Weaver that I've had for years but never got around too. I've learned a few tricks since I last painted my Eldar so decided to see how well I can do now. I'm also stripping my farseer model and giving him a new paint job for the big battle next year.

If my paint job on the new models turns out exceptionally well, I may have to see all my guardians and start fresh. Yikes!

Dreadnoughts

No pictures yet (still need to base the models), but I'm finished painting the three dreadnoughts for my Drop Pod Surprise detachment:

8 Marines with Chaos Lord, 4 Havocs, 3 Dreadnoughts, Droppods for a cool 650 pts. That's 15 units of nasty on someone's doorstep in turn 2.

I've got a game scheduled with Sean next week and I fully intend to try this out.

Titans!

I decided to paint up the two ex-Slaaneshii titans as my Feral Warhound titans recently and finished last night. I've never fielded them but I'm considering giving one or two of them a try.

Legio Fulmineus: then, and now:
 

Battle Pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/quintaan/tags/sept21/

Quick Battle Report

I played Adam and his Eldar last night in a 4000 pt slugfest. I got lucky in turn one with the Deathwheels killing a Night Spinner and two Falcons to break two formations, and the Defilers killing another Night Spinner for a third broken formation. But despite rushing the Raptors in to make it harder for them to rally, they all recovered. I sent in Terminators and with them and the Raptors they killed one Night Spinner formation and the remaining Falcons, but Adam countered with super heavy tanks, jetbikes, and guardians.

In the middle Adam advanced with his guardians, Storm Guardians in wave serpents, aspect warriors in wave serpents, and Revenant Titans. I had an activation advantage in turn one so was able to set up my two Forlorn Hope in between his block and my two large platoons of infantry and bikes. On turn 2 I got initiative and used the bikes with Daemons to break the guardian warhost. He counted with an Avatar assaulting with aspect warriors to destroy a Forlorn hope squad and then the swooping hawks attacked the bikes breaking both sides. I

On turn three I assaulted the aspect warriors with my large Platoon of infantry and destroyed them, forcing the Titans to retreat or risk getting pulled down. My surviving forces pushed through for a desperate attack on the Eldar Blitz objective but failed to break the super heavies guarding it.

After three turns neither side had advantage so we went to a fourth turn where the tides began to shift against the Eldar. Unfortunately, I could not wrest control of that Blitz from the Eldar so I had one goal to zero, not enough for outright victory. We went to tiebreaker to find more Eldar had died, 2600-1900 for chaos.

Analysis:

This was a very balanced battle that could have went either way. I think Eldar made one mistake, assaulting the Forlorn Hope with the Avatar and Aspect warriors on turn two. I would have shot the Forlorn hope with the titans, breaking them, and clearing the way to assault the Platoon of marines behind them. Far more bang for the buck so to speak. That could have blunted my attack and given the Eldar the momentum to roll down the road to the Blitz objective.

A great game, one for the ages. Pictures to follow.

New Swiftdeaths ready for Wednesday

Swiftdeaths without flash:

And with flash:

The paint job is not spectacular, but acceptable. They go well with the rest of the vehicles in the army. I might add some more lightning effects later to the wings.

Pictures Finally

Here are the Lightning Attack Fighters, aka Swiftdeaths along with the current Swiftdeath proxies (aka Doomwings) and the Helltalons. Primed and ready for action.

And here is a picture of the completed Forlorn hope along with my three completed platoons, havocs, and their rhinos. You can also see the terminators off to the right, and the drop pods in the back right.

Once I get the fighters done, my next project is Predators.

Swiftdeath Progress

I assembled my new Lightning Attack Fighters aka Swiftdeaths on Monday and last night washed them to get the stuff off that they use to get them out of the molds. When I primed the big Hell Talon I found a few spots where the soap had not been good enough so this time I soaked those fighters a good hour in dishsoap. That has seemed to do the trick. Next up is priming and then painting.

I also worked on finishing the Forlorn hope, all I have left is the silver piping, some topknots and horns, and then black touchups. Should be done soon.

I've planned a game for next week versus Adam and his Eldar, 4000 pts. Got to figure out what to use.

Gaming Weekend Has Left!

Sorry for the delay getting my report together (glares at Corey) but work was especially trying yesterday and last night Kim and I were TV shopping.

Friday I went over to Corey's place for some 40K, the first for me since May. I'm glad to say I remember what was going on quite well and didn't slow the games down too much. Unfortunately, it gave Corey all the more time to decimate me. See the carnage here on his blog. The first game I played better and did what I think I was supposed to do, but lacked the luck with my lascannons to pull it off. Too many grav tanks shrugging off my attacks. The second game I just didn't think it through even though I knew what Dark Reapers could do and I paid the price. Losing half my marines on turn 1 before even moving is hard to come back from.

I've challenged Corey to a Grudge Match against his Strike Force where I shall be more prepared.

Saturday I met Andrew at the tennis courts and proceeded to school him in a set of tennis. The second set was called after seven games due to extreme hunger with Andrew in the lead 4-3. We had some brunch at Summerhays and then headed over to Brian's place for some serious Twilight Imperium game time. It took from noon til 6 but we had a blast with me edging Andrew out by a single Victory Point, 8-7 as the game ended by the Imperium Rex card.

None of us had any waiting wives so we broke out Axis & Allies D-Day with me taking the side of the defending German army while Andrew played the U.S. and Brian the U.K. It was a tight game coming down to the last turn, last battle, last die rolls, but alas I was forced out of St Lo and the Allies claimed victory (stupid fighters anyway!). I went home tired but satisfied.

Sunday I woke refreshed and ready for some serious Epic as my 5000 pt Grudge Match with Al and his Space Marines at the bunker loomed. I am creating a full battle report this week but I'm getting some pictures developed from a portable camera and that takes some time. Expect it later this week / next week. The short form is that Al launched a major offensive in turn 2 with his three terminator detachments against my Ravager titan and Deathwheel only to have it majorly backfire. His entire terminator strike force died while my war engines were only damaged and broken. With his attack stopped I countered and started rolling up the flank and striking at the centre with multiple weapons. Victory was mine 2-0 after three turns.

Next on the schedule is to play that Grudge Match against Corey and arrange for another game of Epic against Adam.

Gaming Weekend Has Arrived!

Just got to make it through work first.

On tonight's card we have a game of 40K against Jowicota and his fearsome Eldar hordes. Since I have not played 40K since May AND Corey is an excellent general, I thoroughly expect to get pummelled.

Tomorrow I've got me some Twilight Imperium with Andrew and Brian. Lots of fun.

And on Sunday I've got my 5000 pt Grudge Match(TM) versus Al and his marines in Epic. Expect report on Monday!

w00t!

Present from England Arrived!

My six lighting attack fighters arrived in the mail today, the future replacements for the sad looking Doomwings as my swiftdeath fighters. They are quite larger than the doomwings but fit in scale with the helltalons and are much more in style with my army as renegades than chaotic servants of the Dark Gods.

Also, in other news my story arc for the Return to Harsaded is pretty much fleshed out in my mind, just a few details to work out and fit the upcoming battles into it.

Slowly but Surely

Realizing I'm running out of time, I decided to base the forlorn hope first and then work towards finishing the paint jobs later. By basing them, they will at least kind of qualify for bunker use (three colours and based). They are the last of my 5000 pt army that requires effort. Pictures to follow soon I hope.

I'm Not Bitter... Much

There have been a lot of 40K tournaments in Ottawa-Gatineau recently. Hall of Heros events at the Bunker, Multizone, as well as other events. I've made it to one Epic "games day" where six of us played two games on sunday afternoon. Its very frustrating.

My weekends are taken up by real life and I have a certain amount of envy for those that can take a saturday and do nothing but play 40K or Epic. Ah well, at least next weekend my wife is out of town so real life takes a backseat to board and table top gaming.

Terminators half done

The six stands of terminators are half done, all they need is grey, black touchup, and then basing. Next week will see the two forlorn hope squads done up. I'm thinking of changing the scheme a little and using red piping to show they are different.